BRIGHTON — When Melissa Rahrich was in the first grade, she made her first competitive softball team. The other players were fifth-graders.

"It was a good learning experience," Rahrich said at the Brighton High School field Monday. "I didn't play much, but being around top players was really nice."

"Playing up" an age group or two has been her pattern ever since, so it's no surprise that the sophomore pitcher leads the Bulldogs into the Class 5A state tournament at the Aurora Sports Park. Brighton (19-2) is the No. 9 seed and, in the wake of the weather-caused postponements, will play No. 8 Loveland in the first round Saturday at 10 a.m.

Rahrich has a 16-2 record, a 1.18 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 101 innings. On the rare occasions she's not pitching, she's still in the lineup, usually playing third base. She's hitting .574 with a team-leading 35 RBIs and seven home runs. Five other Bulldogs — center fielder Rachael Lopez, catcher-first baseman Kayla Michel, shortstop Katelyn Ellis, left fielder Carleigh Garcia and third baseman Ayla Robison — are hitting .451 or higher.

The Bulldogs went 9-0 to win the East Metro Conference and their only regular-season loss was to Holy Family. In district play last Saturday at Brighton, their decisive shutout wins over Grand Junction Central (10-0) and Chapparal (11-0) were sandwiched around a 6-2 loss to Eaglecrest, but the second victory advanced Brighton to state.

Advertisement

"It's hard knowing how you're going to do because our conference isn't the best, but it's nice to know that we can come out and do our thing and get the job done," Rahrich said.

Rahrich was raised in the Erie area, but she moved to Brighton with her parents in the summer before her freshman year.

"I was nervous at first because I didn't really know many people," Rahrich said. "I knew a couple of the players, but that was it."

Playing softball helped ease the transition, and she made varsity as a freshman. She also has played the past two years in the area's well-known Stars club program.

"She's always played against tougher competition," said Brighton's veteran coach, Bob Gonzales. "She's a competitor and a great athlete. I'm her pitching coach and she's really coming around with her pitching, getting a lot tougher than she was as a freshman."

"I love playing positions when I have a chance, but I know my first obligation is on the mound," she said. "I love so much playing for this team."

Winning state requires two victories Friday and two more Saturday. Some teams use multiple pitchers, but Rahrich will pitch as long as the Bulldogs are alive.

"It's nice when you beat the top teams because it opens eyes to what we have to offer," Rahrich said. "We have so much talent on this team and I know we're not looked at as one of the top teams, but we hope to surprise some people."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story